Means for introducing flavor imparting agents into tobacco and tobacco articles



Oct. 1, 1963 w. T. CANAN 3,105,499

MEANS FOR INTRODUCING FLAVOR IMPARTING AGENTS INTO TOBACCO AND TOBACCOARTICLES Filed Aug. 22. 1960 United States Patent MEANS FOR INTRODUCHNGFLAVQR ART- EJG AGENTS IINTG TGBACCO AND TOESACCG ARTECLES Walter T.tlanan, 2518 E. Huntington Drive, Duarte, Calif. Filed Aug. 22, 19W,Ser. No. 56,967 2 Claims. (Cl. 131-133) This invention relates to newand useful means whereby volatile aromatic flavor imparting agents maybe introduced into tobacco and tobacco articles.

This application is a continuation-in-part of an application Serial No.862,100 filed by applicant December 28, 1959 now Patent No. 3,026,881issued March 27, 1962.

Hitherto, various flavoring agents have been introduced into smokingtobacco and tobacco articles as a step in tobacco manufacturingprocesses. Also it has been proposed to introduce certain volatileflavoring agents into manufactured smoking articles, the expedient ofstoring same in a confined space together with the flavoring agents,over a period of time, whereby the characteristics of the volatilesubstances are transferred to the tobacco. However, by whatever meansintroduced, the flavored tobacco or tobacco article is usually availableto the consumer as a finished article, the smoker having no control overthe process or the amount of flavoring agent.

The present invention constitutes a departure from prior practice inthat there is herewith made available a means whereby the smoker himselfmay introduce the flavor of his choice in the amount he selects in aconven ient, simple and practical manner.

In accordance with the present invention the smoker is enabled tointroduce a flavor modifying agent, manually and immediately prior toconsuming the tobacco.

An object of the present invention accordingly consists in the provisionof means for manually and selectively introducing into a tobacco articleflavor modifying agents according to the taste and preferences of thesmoker.

A further object of the invention consists in the provision of anapplicator for applying menthol or a menthol containing composition totobacco articles wherein the menthol composition associated with theapplicator will remain stable and at full strength for a long period oftime preceding use.

Recently, menthol has greatly increased in favor as an addition tosmoking tobacco. The effect of the menthol is to impart to the smokedenived from burning tobacco a characteristic liked by many smokers. Theterms usually applied to describe this characteristic are coolness,flavor, aroma, and the like. None of the terms in current use areprecisely descriptive of the specific menthol characteristic, nor infact can it be said that the effect of menthol is fully understood. Itmay well be that the chief er'fect of menthol is a certain anti-irritanteffect. However, so far as menthol preference is concerned, the mainpoint is that the smoker personally finds the mentholated tobacco moreagreeable than non-mentholated tobacco. In this application the mentholsensation will be referred to simply as flavor and menthol as afiavoning agent, it being understood that these terms comprehend thealteration in the characteristics of the tobacco smoke with which thisinvention is concerned.

Moreover it is common practice to incorporate with menthol certain otherflavoring agents such as essential oils, mint and the like, and in thisview it is contemplated that the menthol prepared in accordance withthis invention may contain added flavoring agents useful in theconditioning and aromatizing of tobacco. Also it is within the scope ofthis invention to incorporate with menthol certain substances for thepurpose of modifying the physical characteristics of menthol. For thislatter purpose fiddii Patented Got. 1, 1963 "ice many materials areavailable, a characteristic of which consists in the avoidance ofintroduction of objectionable flavor. Among such substances may bementioned ethyl alcohol, ether, glycerine, ethylene glycol, inert ornoncombustible filling or thickening agents.

It being an object of the invention to impart a flavor that isessentially recognizable as the menthol flavor, which although it may beattained by the employment of a composition containing a majorproportion of menthol, also may be attained when the menthol is in minoramount, as for example when the menthol is in the form of a compositionhaving ethyl alcohol in preponderant amount, the term compositionconsisting essentially of mentho is herein employed to denote anycomposition containing menthol wherein the menthol flavor is readilyapparent to the smoker.

Whereas, as described in my prior application, Serial No. 862,100, abovereferred to, the basic objects of the invention therein described may beattained by means of a simple applicator comprising a shank of wood orother suitable material bearing at one end a head formed from asubstantially solid menthol composition, which may be provided with acover, I have found that due to the low vapor pressure of the volatilematerials it is desirable to make further provision for preventingescape of the composition.

While the means described in my prior application has proved quitesatisfactory under ordinary atmospheric conditions, these conditions arenot always maintained. For example, in a building, or in av vehicle,during summer heat the temperature may rise to and above the meltingpoint of the menthol composition. If the menthol composition remainsliquified, for any considerable period of time, the composition willflow and escape. Accordingly it is a further object of the presentinvention to provide special means for preventing the effect ofliquefaction when the menthol composition is put up in the form of anapplicator.

In accordance with the present invention, the escape of liquifiedmenthol composition may be avoided by e-ncasing the menthol compositionin a sealed container or preferably by so forming the head of theapplicator that the menthol composition is preferentially retainedtherein by surface tension.

The features of novelty of the present invention are pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and made a part of thisspecification. However in order that the invention may be fullyunderstood and readily practiced, certain specific embodiments thereofwill be described reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates an applicator provided with means for avoiding escapeof liquified menthol composition according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates an applicator of the type shown in FIG. 1 having amodified head construction.

FIG. 4 illustrates a funther modification of head construction in anapplicator of the type shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the head of the applicator shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the head of the applicator shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 illustrates a second type of applicator provided with means foravoiding escape of liquefied menthol composition according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates the insert provided with the applicator illustratedin FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 illustrates a third type of applicator provided with means foravoiding escape of liquefied menthol composition according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates the method of applying menthol composition to acigarette, according to the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the applicator 12 constructed in accordancewith the present invention consists of a wire shank l4 and a wire headportion. The wire shank 14 consists of a plurality of thin wires twistedor interwoven and has sufiicient rigidity to facilitate grasping in themanner shown in FIG. 10. In FIG. 1 the shank 14 consists of four thinwires which extend and continue to form the head portion 16. The latterconsists of four small loops or eyes 18. The head portion 16 is encasedin a cover 2% which is composed of a thin impervious material, and thecover is secured by means of a collar 22. The wire loops 18 as may beclearly seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 form a retainer or cage wherein thementhol composition 24 may be retained or trapped.

In FIGS. 3 and 5, the shank portion 14 is formed of two wires twisted orinterwoven to provide rigidity, and extended to the head portion 16a,and there formed into two loops 18a located successively in thedirection of the axis of the applicator and disposed axiallysubstantially at right angles to each other. A coverZlla similar tocover 20 may he placed over the head portion and secured by a strip orcollar similar to element 22 of FIG. 1, and the loops 18, prior toaffixing the cover, are filled with a menthol composition. It will beunderstood that the spacing of the covers '29, Zila and Zilb outwardfrom the loops 18, 18a and 13b, is somewhat exaggerated for purposes ofillustration. Retaining strip 22 may be provided with adhesive forsealing purposes and with an extension whereby the end of the strip maybe grasped and stripped 01f in manner known to the art.

In FIG. 4, a shank porton 14 composed of two Wires is shown. Otherwisestated, a single thin wire of somewhat greater length thantwice thelength of the completed applicator is looped at '18]; and twistedtogether for the remainder of its length to form the shank portion 14.

The operation of the applicators shown in FIGS. '1 to 6 is as follows:the vaporization of the menthol composition 24 normally is prevented bythe covering elements 20, Zila, and 28b. However, should the ambienttemperature reach or rise above the melting point of the mentholcomposition, retention of the menthol composition is adversely affectedby escape ofthe liquid which is able to penetrate under the cover at thezone of the collar 22. Further upon resolidification the mentholcomposition tends to adhere to the interior of the covers 20, 20a andZilb, whereby when the cover is removed the menthol composition isremoved also, unless some special provision is made. In accordance withthe present invention, however, the wire loops are able to hold asubstantial portion of the menthol composition by virtue of the surfacetension and capillary characteristics of the liquid and thus prevent itsescape. The arrangement according to the present invention thus aifordsa very considerable advantage inasmuch as the temperature ofliquification of a menthol composition frequently is reached underordinary conditions as in storage in buildings, in transportationvehicles, and elsewhere.

In FIGS. 7 and 8 the menthol composition is preserved in a tube 26,which is formed of a soft flexible metal or plastic, and wherefrom thecomposition may be extruded by simply removing the cap 28 and squeezingthe tube. However, in this arrangement it is preferred to incorporate aninsert 32 formed of corrugated wire. The functions of the latter areseveral. The enlarged or head portion 36 serves to assist in sealing inthe composition 39. The operative portion 34 serves as a means to stirand distribute the composition to prevent clogging, inasmuch as it it anobject to employ only a very small portion of composition and to keepdown the diameter of the tube to a minimum. The insert 32 further servesto stiifen and keep open the tube which being quite small will easily bebent or otherwise distorted. The insert 32 further serves as anapplicator in its own right whereby portions of the contents of the tubecan be removed and applied to the tobacco article.

The further modification shown in FIG. 9 is formed from a shank portion52 bearing at one or preferably at each end sealed ampules 44 and 46filled with unit dosages 4i and 42 of menthol composition. In thisillustration the shank 52 and the ampules 44 and 46 are formed ofonesubstantially continuous piece of glass. The ampules 44 and 46 areformed with thin walls. In using this applicator the tip 48 of ampule 46may be seized and broken to release the contents 42 of the ampule. Tofacilitate breakage the ampule is scored at break-off line 54. Afterexhausting the contents by applying the contents of the ampule to atobacco article in the manner shown in FIG. 10, the other ampule 44which is still intact may be similarly employed by breaking off tip 50to release contents 4% Whereas the type of applicator shown in FIGS. 1to 6 is primarily designed for normally solid menthol compositions, theforms illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9 are particularly desirable when pastyor normally liquid menthol compositions are used.

Having now described and illustrated preferred forms of applicatorsaccording to the present invention, what I particularly desire to claimis as follows:

1. A menthol applicator for manually applying localized coating ofmenthol composition to manufactured tobacco articles, comprising a headand a shank, the latter being formed of twisted filamentary material,said head being composed essentially of menthol composition, said headbeing provided with at least one loop of filamentary material connectedto said shank, the opening in said loop being of sufiiciently smalldimensions to retain said menthol composition by surface tension whensaid composition is liquified, said menthol composition being ofsufiiciently small amount to effect retention thereof by said loop,substantially in entirety when said composition is liquified.

2. A menthol applicator for manually applying localized coating ofmenthol composition to manufactured tobacco articles, comprising a headand a shank, said head containing a composition consisting essentiallyof menthol, said head being provided with a filamentary loop forming anopening of sufiiciently small dimensions to retain said mentholcomposition by surface tension when said composition is liquified, saidmenthol composition being of sufiiciently small amount to efiectretention thereof by said loop, substantially in entirety when saidcomposition is liquified.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. A MENTHOL APPLICATOR FOR MANUALLY APPLYING LOCALIZED COATING AMENTHOL COMPOSITION TO MANUFACTURED TOBACCO ARTICLES, COMPRISING A HEADAND A SHANK, THE LATTER BEING FORMED OF TWISTED FILAMENTARY MATERIAL,SAID HEAD BEING COMPOSED ESSENTIALLY OF MENTHOL COMPOSITION, SAID HEADBEING PROVIDED WITH AT LEAST ONE LOOP OF FILAMENTARY MATERIAL CONNECTEDTO SAID SHANK, THE OPENING IN SAID